You know the drill when a storm is coming. Secure outdoor furniture and stock up on batteries, water and non-perishable food items.
“GreatFlorida Insurance regularly compiles storm safety tips for our readers,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent homeowners insurance agency. “Weather is unpredictable despite our best efforts and we want to help people be safe.”
While you are familiar with precautions to heed during a storm to ensure your safety, do you know what NOT to do during a storm? Florida Today, spoke with emergency management officials about activities to avoid during a storm to give you, your family and first responders an easier time while riding out the storm.
- Use a charcoal grill in the house or garage and you could end up with carbon monoxide poisoning. The same goes for gas powered generators.
- Also, don’t connect generators directly to your home’s electrical system. It can electrify lines outside and endanger your neighbors and utility workers.
- Stay home after an evacuation is ordered. Rescue workers will not try to reach you at the height of a storm.
“Consequently, some people stay home during an evacuation to protect their home or valuables, but it is not worth it. Let homeowners insurance do its job,” says Buck with GreatFlorida Insurance.
- Go for a ride or walk outside. Dangerous conditions causing flooding, flying debris and falling trees could force emergency management workers from other pressing duties.
- Visit the ER for minor injuries or illness
- Mess with downed power lines
- Drain your pool. The water table can rise from rain and force the pool up, out of the ground.
- Be careless or forget about candles
- Approach animals wandering around after a storm. Even docile pets can be unnerved by a storm and could bite.
- Bring guns, alcohol or pets to a public shelter.
- Lose your cool. Stores will be crowded, gas lines long, and people will be anxious and tempers will be short.
- Venture into the ocean or lagoon. There are always adrenaline junkies wanting to challenge the force of Mother Nature in the water, but it is a battle you rarely win.
To find out the latest information on Florida weather, evacuations, school and government closures and more, check out the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
When a storm hits, it is too late. Let GreatFlorida Insurance secure a dependable and affordable homeowners insurance plan for you.
